Medina County court records obtained by Jordan Miller News provide additional insight into the criminal history of the man authorities identified as the suspect in Sunday’s deadly shooting in Rittman.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 39-year-old Brandon Fazekas, who investigators say died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the shooting. The incident claimed the lives of Rittman Police Sgt. Scott Ries, Christine McWilliams and her 13-year-old daughter, McKinley McWilliams. Four Medina County sheriff’s deputies were also wounded.
Court records reviewed by Jordan Miller News show Fazekas had multiple felony convictions in Medina County dating back more than 15 years.
2009 forgery conviction
According to Medina County court records, Fazekas was charged in 2009 with fifth-degree felony forgery.
He was convicted in January 2010 after entering a no contest plea.
On March 10, 2010, a judge sentenced Fazekas to five years of community control and 180 days in the Medina County Jail. The sentence also required a drug and alcohol assessment, any recommended treatment, independent living and attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. The court warned that violating community control could result in a one-year prison sentence.
Court records show Fazekas later violated the terms of his community control. After failing to comply with the conditions of his sentence, he was sentenced on Oct. 21, 2011, to 148 days in jail for the probation violation.
2010 breaking and entering, vandalism convictions
Separate Medina County court records show Fazekas was indicted in January 2010 on three counts of fifth-degree felony breaking and entering and three counts of fifth-degree felony vandalism stemming from incidents that allegedly occurred in June 2009.
He was convicted on all six felony counts in April 2010 after entering a no contest plea.
According to a sentencing entry filed May 14, 2010, Fazekas received 79 days in jail on each of the three breaking and entering counts, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively to one another but concurrently with the sentence imposed in the forgery case. He was credited with 42 days already served.
The records reviewed by Jordan Miller News pertain to Medina County court cases and do not represent a complete criminal history in other jurisdictions.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation continues to investigate Sunday’s shooting. Four Medina County sheriff’s deputies were wounded in the incident. Wayne County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Vick, who was also shot while responding, was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon and is continuing his recovery at home.
